convicts and their guards. In 1788, the British government sent a fleet of ships, known as the First Fleet, to establish a penal colony in Australia. The fleet carried around 1400 people, including approximately 780 convicts, along with marines and officers to maintain order and control. The penal colony was established in what is now Sydney, and it marked the beginning of European settlement in Australia. Over time, more settlers, both convicts and free settlers, would come to Australia, significantly shaping its history and culture.
